hanke



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. HANKE.

WIRE STRETGHER.

Pat'entdAug. 31,1897.

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v (No Model.)

G HANKE WIRE STRBTGHBR.

N0. 589,082. Patented Aug. 31, 1897.

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@as yef-[Wzla UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcEe GUSTAVE I-IANKE, OF ADAIR, IOWA, ASSIGN OR OF TW O-THIRDS TO CHRIST LEOKBAND AND A.` O. SAVAGE, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part .of Letters :Patent 1\To 589,082, dated August 31, 1897.

Application filed March 25, 1897.3

'- hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, has relation to a Wirestretching device, and more particularly relates to an appliance used in building wire fences and for tightening, repairing, and re` storing the wires thereof. v

The details of construction involved will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention complete. Fig.` 2v is a side elevation thereof, showing part of the fence-post in dotted lines and also showing a slightly-modified adjustment of the side'v braces. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of my invention, showing one of its uses. Fig. et is a transverse section on a line central to the winding-drum.

The various details involved in the construction of my improved wire-stretcher will be designated by figures, the same figure being employed to indicate the vsame part throughout the several views.

It will be observed that I have produced a wire-stretching appliance which maybe employed to meet all the various requirements of such a tool, as it has the capacity of being applied directly to the end of the wire when another line thereof is to be stretched in position, and also for being attached to the 4ends of a broken wire for the purpose vof bringing saidv ends together, when the break maybe repaired.` The device may also be used to take up the slack in a wire without the neces sity of cutting the same, the lprocess bei-ng illustrated in Fig. r

Briefly stated, my invention consists in providing a framework which forms a track or guidewayupon which one of the clamps may be reciprocated by means of a cable, while one end of the framework has attached to it an additional clamp for receiving one end of sein No. 629,231. (No modem the broken Wire, and in certain constructions which will enable the jaws of the clamp to be reliably brought to bear upon the wire placed therein.

In carrying out my invention I provide the body or frame proper, consisting of the members 1 and 2, Vsecurely held in position by the end blocks 3, which maybe secured by means of the locking-bolts 4, or said blocks may be integrally formed with the side pieces, if pre ferrcd. f v

The blocks 3 are located sufficiently near Vthe ends of the side pieces to permit the mounting ofthe pulleys 5 and (i, respectively, held in position by the shafts 7 and 8.

rlhe shaft 7 is of sufficient length to extend laterally to one side of the frame, and upon 'suchextension Ippivotally mount the brace ,9, the purpose of which-will be hereinafter set forth. Y l

The shaft 8 is of sufficient length upon each side of the side pieces to provide a journal, upon which are mounted the levers lO and 11, each being provided upon its lower edge with the ratchet teeth or notches 12, designed to engagev the wire upon either side of a post when it 'is desired to take up the slack therein, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Designed to reciprocate between the inner edges of the frame-pieces 1 and 2 is the guideblock 13, having the anchoring edges 14, each edge being Aso formed as to extend slightly over the inner edge. of the contiguous side piece, andthus securely mount said block in its position.

Upon the upper surface of the guide-block I provide the ears 15, each provided with an aperture in which is mounted a ring or eyebolt 16, designed toreceive the end of the op- -eratingcable 17,'by means of which said block is moved to either endk of the frame.

Erected upon the upper 'side of and integrally formed withthe block 1 3 is the xed -jaw 1S, preferablyrprovided with a'roughened face,va`nd designed to cooperate therewith is the lnovable jawlQ, said jaws'being held in coperative position by means of the clamping-bpit 2o. 1 f

It will be observed that a seat 21 is provided between the ears 15 to accommodate the lower end of the jaw 19 and prevent all IOO excepta lateral movement thereof. Said jaws are held normally open by means of the spring 22, interposed between them and mounted upon the bolt 20, the movement of the jaw bcing circumscribed by the pin 23, or said pin maybe replaced bya nutofsuitable character.

I pivotally mount upon the end of the frame, to which are secured the levers lO and ll, the guide 24, having the beveled edge 25, designed to engage the post during the process of taking up the slack in a wire, while upon the opposite end of the frame I locate thc clampingjaw 26, which consists of the fixed jaw 27, having the integrally-formed anchoring end 2S, connected to the ends of the side pieces l and 2 by means of the staple 29, substantially as shown.

Designed to cooperate with the fixed jaw 27 is the laterally-movable jaw 30, held in position by the bolt 231, said jaws being normally held in an open position by the interposed spring 32.

In order to open and close the jaws 1S and I9 and 27 and 30, I provide, respectively, therefor the cam-levers and 34-, and as each of the movable jaws is tapered or narrowed toward its lower edges the cam-face 35 of said levers will reliably lock and hold the jaws together when said lever is properly manipulated, aS will he readily understood.

In order to positively reciprocate the block 13 and its accompanying' jaws, I provide the cable I7, which may be formed of any suitable material, though it is thought that a wire cable will be productive of the best results. Power is applied to -said cable by means of the drum 3o, rotatably mounted in position by means otl the operating-shaft 37, to which said drum is rigidly secured.

The shaft 37 and its accompanying drum are rotatably mounted beneath the frame-sections l and 2 by means of the brackets 38, one end of said shaft being arranged to extend entirely through one of said brackets, and upon said end I rigidly attach the ratchetwheel 39 and the crank i0, by means ot which the drum is rotated.

Cooperatingl with the ratchet-wheel 39 is the detent 4l, having the bifurcated end 42, said detent being so pivoted in position that it may be employed to cooperate with said wheel from either side thereof, thus locking the drum in an adjusted position, though the strain or pull thereon may be from either direction.

In order to obtain a reliable grasp or purchase upon the cable, I prefer to wrap it several times around the drum, and it is thought that no additional means will be required to eitect the cooperation of said drum and cable.

In order that the appliance may be secured in position upon the post or other object, I provide the anchoring-chain 43, one end of which is secured to the staple 44, while the free end thereof is held in an adjusted position by means of the narrow loop 45, formedA upon the securing-staple 4G. By this arrangement it will be observed that said loop 45 being 'of sufticient width to receive one of the links the chain will be reliably held against slipping after once adjusted, as the succeeding link will lie in a different plane and will therefore be prevented from passing through the loop. In order to reinforce the locking capacity of said chain, I provide upon the free end of the brace t) a beveled edge having a concave edge or notch 47, while in like manner Iprovide upon the free end of the lever lO the biting-notch or concave edge 48. The brace 9 is brought to bear upon the upper part of the post by placing the free end thereof against it, while the free end of the lever l0 is swung into position against the lower part of the post, though it will be understood that theposition of these parts may be interehanged, the lever 10 being placed above, while the brace 0 may be brought to bear upon the lower part of the post. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the side braces will prove equally eficient when mounted upon the projecting ends of thebolts 4; instead of upon bolts 7 and S, as shown in Figs. l and 3. rlhis disposition of said lever and post securely holds the wire-stretcher in an anchored position, enabling the device to be used to meet all the requirements of building or repairing a fence. During the building process the use of the device, after being anchored substantially in the manner stated, is as follows: The drum is properly rotated to bring the jaws 18 and I9 to that end ofthe frame nearest the end of the Wire with which said jaws are to cooperate when said wire is placed between the jaws and the lever caused to describe one-halt' of a circle, more or less, which will bring the cam-face thereof to bear upon the outer tapered face of the movable jaw and thus tightly bind the wire, when the drum may be so rotated as to draw said jaws and the secured end of the wire toward the opposite end of the frame until a suiiieient degree of tension is produced, when the detent may be swung into engagement with the ratchet-wheel and the operator may then secure the stretched wire to the several posts intervening between the point where the stretcher was last employed and startingpoint.

After the wire has been secured to the several posts the end thereof may be released from the jaws, when more of the wire may be unwound from the spool and the stretcher moved to another-position, where the operation may be repeated.

lVhen it is desired to bring the severed ends of a broken wire together, the jaws 1S lt) and 27 and 8O are separated to the desired extent by a proper rotation of the drum, when each of said jaws will :receive one of the free ends of the wire, and by rotating the drum the jaws 18 and 19 are caused to move toward the other jaws, and thus bring the ends of the wires together or sufficiently near to complete the splicing process.

IOO

.When it'is desired to merely take up the slack of a wire, the guide 2i is placed against the post and one of the levers or Il is swung into position over the wire, so that one of the notches or ratchets l2 thereon I will contact therewith, when by a lateral movement of the device the wire is effectively tightened, when it may be secured by staples or otherwise. This operation may be repeated at the next post or at proper intervals on the line of-the fence. It will be seen that great leverage is provided by means of which the levers lO and ll will reliably perform their office from either side of the post.

It will be observed that I have produced a reliably efficient construction for the purpose specified, and it will be understood that the several parts may be construct-ed of any suitable material. While I have described the preferred 'accessories necessary to produce myinvention, it will be understood that the equivalents thereof are comprehended by me, and I do not, therefore, Wish to be held to the exact construction set forth.

Having thus fully described the construetion and operation of my improved wirestretching device, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, isn

l. As an improvement in Wire-stretchers, the eombinationwith the framework, of a guide block mounted thereon; clampingjaws secured to said guidefblock an operating-drum for said guide block rotatably with the jaws upon the movable block, substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improvement in wire-stretchers, the herein-described appliance consisting of the frame or body having the members land 2 and the end blocks 3; grooved pulleys 5 and 6 rotatably mounted between the ends of the side pieces; a guide-block slidingly mounted between the inner edges of said pieces and carryingthe jaws 18 and 19 and the cam-lever therefor; a guide-block having a beveled edge pivotally mounted upon one end of the body; clampingejaws 27 and 30 secured to the opposite end of the body and provided with the operating-lever and the post-engaging brace, and lever, and chainall operatively combined in the manner and -for the purpose set forth.

' In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses. t

GUSTAVE HANKE. Witnesses:

THos. FLYNN, WM. SCHLOTFELD. 

